Harvesting Flowers or leaves for drying can be collected throughout the growing season. Consider Harvesting experimenting and collecting plants at different stages of development. For example, some leaves change in and size, color, and texture over the course of a growing season. Harvesting at various times provides more Drying variety. Choose only the best flowers for drying; insect or disease damage is more apparent after flowers have dried. For best results, harvest flowers and leaves when they are free from dew or rain in order to reduce drying time. Place the cut flowers directly into a container of water to keep them as fresh as possible before the drying process begins. Wiring Techniques great way to enjoy flowers all year long is to Flowers that do not have A collect and preserve them for use in dried naturally stiff stems benefit arrangements, on wreaths, or in potpourri. With from wrapping the stems a little preparation many flowers will retain their with 20- to 24-gauge wire color and form when dried. Some flowers called and floral tape. Flowers placed in a drying agent also “everlasting” flowers are very easy to dry. These Mums, zinnias, and other similarly flowers are composed of colorful, papery petals or usually have the stems shaped flowers can be wired through the center of the flower bracts (modified leaves that look like petals) that removed and replaced head. when the flower is mature, are stiff and dry even with wire. though the flower is still attached to the living plant. Plants Suitable for Drying In addition to the annual and perennial flowers listed here, a number of other plant types also can be dried. Woody shrubs with suitable flowers include roses and hydrangeas. The leaves and flower heads of ornamental Inserting the wire below the flower Use floral tape to wrap the ends works best for roses, sunflowers, and of the wire to the stem. grasses–such as fountain grass, northern sea oats, and other heavy flowers. the many types of Miscanthus–dry well. And although some may think of these as weeds, the dried seed heads Air Drying of cattail and dock make beautiful additions to dried Air drying is the arrangements. Leaves from beech, cotoneaster, Russian easiest and most olive, English ivy, and oaks can be preserved using the common way to glycerin process; including leaves like these in dried preserve most arrangements gives a more natural look. The fruit from flowers. Gather the bittersweet vine is also popular in dried arrangements. stems into small Finally, consider harvesting and preserving the foliage bunches and bind of perennials, such as silver mound artemisia and together with a lamb’s ear, to add a soft gray color and interesting rubber band. Hang the bunches upside-down in a dark, texture to your arrangements. well-ventilated area. Hanging them upside down helps keep the stems straight and the flower heads more upright and rigid. Darkness prevents color fading. Warm temperatures and good ventilation speed the drying process and prevent molding. Most flowers

PM 1398 Revised February 2007 1 need one to two weeks silica gel to dry flowers, it may be necessary to dry the to dry depending on silica out by baking it in a shallow pan at 250° to 300°F the moisture content, for approximately 1 hour, stirring the crystals several temperature, and times while they are drying. Keep unused silica gel in humidity. A properly dried air-tight containers. flower should feel stiff and dry, not limp or damp. Microwave oven drying is another method and can Some everlasting flowers result in fresh-looking, colorful dried flowers. In a can be dried upright. microwave-safe dish put a layer of silica gel. Nestle the flower into the gel being careful not to damage the Drying Agents petals. Put a small container of water in the microwave Drying agents can be used to preserve most flowers and to prevent excessive drying during the microwaving are an alternative to air drying. Spike flowers, such as process. Drying times will vary from one to three snapdragons and delphiniums, can be dried with the minutes depending on flower size and petal thickness. stem attached being careful not to flatten flowers. After drying, leave the flowers in the silica gel for 12 to 24 hours to allow the flowers to finish drying and cool. Place a 1- to 2-inch layer of drying material in To prevent dried flowers from reabsorbing moisture the bottom of a shallow from the air, seal by spraying with hair spray or a container. Gently sift the lacquer. material over the petals, making sure that all petals A glycerin solution can be used to preserve leaves, remain in place as the giving them a pliable and life-like appearance. material is added. Use a Glycerin is available in craft stores. Follow the specific toothpick to correct bent directions on the container. If long stems with multiple petals or to reposition them. leaves are being preserved, the cut stems should be placed upright in a container and the glycerin solution After all flowers have been Check petal placement before covering completely. completely covered, lift the will be absorbed up through the stem. Another method container and tap it gently on the base to help settle the involves submerging the stems or individual leaves in a material, then re-cover any exposed flowers. glycerin solution so that all of the surfaces are coated. In both cases, the leaves will darken as the glycerin is A popular mixture for drying is made by combining equal absorbed. It usually takes one to three weeks for the parts borax and white cornmeal. These materials hold glycerinizing process to be completed. the petals in place while they dry naturally. Flowers will dry in approximately two to three weeks. The container Regardless of which should be left uncovered during the drying process. preservation method is used, a little experimentation with Commercially prepared drying agents contain silica gel when to harvest and which that absorbs moisture from the flowers. Flowers being method works best will be dried in silica gel must be placed in air-tight containers necessary. The end result to prevent the product from absorbing moisture from will be beautiful flowers the air. Drying in silica gel usually takes three to eight with a lifelike appearance days and varies with the flower thickness. If removed that you can enjoy long after too soon, the petals will droop. If removed too late, the summer has ended. petals become brittle and may break easily. After using

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination statement or accommodation inquiries, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext.

2 Perennials German statice (Goniolimon tataricum) Yarrow (Achillea species) Purple, white Apricot, pink, red, white, Height: 18 inches yellow Air dry—strong stiff natural stem; pick when all the Height: 40 inches flowers on a stem have opened Air dry—strong stiff natural stem; pick when peak size Perennial baby’s breath and color are reached and (Gypsophila paniculata) flowers are firm to the touch; dry upright or upside White, pink down Height: 36 inches Air dry—strong stiff natural Pearly everlasting stem; pick when a majority (Anaphalis triplinervis) of florets open on a flowering stem White Height: 18 inches Lavender Air dry—tape stem to wire; (Lavandula officinalis) pick when white bracts are Blue, pink, purple unfurled, but before yellow center has unfurled Height: 18 inches Air dry—strong stiff natural Cupid’s dart (Catanache caerulea) stem; pick as individual Blue florets are open Height: 18 inches Air dry—strong stiff natural stem; pick when petals Liatris (Liatris spicata) are fully open Purple, white Height: 18 to 36 inches Delphinium Air dry—strong stiff natural (Delphinium × elatum) stem; pick when half to two- Blue, violet, white, pink thirds of flowers are open Height: 36 to 72 inches Air dry or use silica—strong Sea lavender stiff natural stem; pick when (Limonium latifolium) majority of florets on the White, purple flowering stem are open Height: 18 inches Air dry—strong stiff natural Globe thistle stem; pick when most of the (Echinops ritro) florets are open Blue Height: 40 inches Annuals Air dry—strong stiff natural Cockscomb stem; pick as soon as central (Celosia species) globes are gray-blue and before the tiny flowers appear Apricot, orange, pink, red, yellow, purple Sea holly (Eryngium species) Height: 12 to 36 inches Blue Air dry—strong stiff natural Height: 24 inches stem; pick at peak size and color; color fades slightly Air dry—tape stem to wire; pick when color is bright over time and tiny stamens begin to show, giving the flower head a fuzzy appearance

3 Larkspur Bells-of-Ireland (Consolida ambigua) (Molucella laevis) Blue, pink, purple Green Height: 36 inches Height: 24 inches Air dry or use silica—strong Air dry or use silica—strong stiff natural stem; pick when stiff natural stem; harvest half spike florets are open, half closed when bracts are fully open; color changes to light brown or tan when dry Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) Love-in-a-mist Pink, purple, white, apricot, (Nigella damasceana) red Pink, white, green Height: 24 inches Height: 18 inches Air dry—tape stem to wire Air dry—strong stiff natural or attach flower to wire before drying; pick when stem; pick when pods are flower heads are at peak color firm and papery to the touch

Sunflower Blue salvia (Helianthus annuus) (Salvia farinacea) Yellows, maroon, orange Blue, white Height: 12 to 120 inches Height: 24 inches Air dry—wire heads for extra Air dry or use silica—strong support; select dwarf cultivars stiff natural stem; pick when for flowers and taller cultivars for larger seed heads florets are fully open

Strawflower Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) (Helichrysum bracteatum) All colors except black and Red, pink, white, yellow, blue orange Height: 12 to 48 inches Height: 12 to 30 inches Use silica—attach flower to Air dry—attach flower to wire before drying; harvest wire before drying; pick when a few rows of outside when petals are fully open, before color begins to fade bracts are opened but before center opens Check these Web sites for more information Annual statice ISU Extension Publications— www.extension.iastate.edu/store/ (Limonium sinuatum) Apricot, blue, lavender, pink, ISU Horticulture— purple, white, yellow www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/ Height: 18 inches Questions also may be directed to ISU Extension Air dry—strong stiff natural Hortline by calling 515-294-3108 during business hours stem; pick when all of the flowers (the calyces) are open (10 a.m.– 12 noon, 1 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday), or by contacting your local ISU Extension office. Money plant (Lunaria annua) (Biennial) Revised by Ann Marie VanDerZanden and Cindy Haynes, Height: 30 inches extension horticulturists; Tigon Woline, horticulture student; Diane Nelson, extension communication specialist. Photography Air dry—strong stiff natural by Ann Marie VanDerZanden, Peter Krumhardt, Cindy Haynes, stem; harvest when flowers Tigon Woline, and Jill Koch. Designed by Jane Lenahan. turn into papery pods; remove outer shells to File: Hort and LA 2-1 expose showy inner membrane 4